KUALA LUMPUR: Up to 82,341 children and teenagers, from babies up to the age of 17, had been infected with Covid-19 since the pandemic first hit Malaysian shores.
Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Adham Baba said data from Jan 25 last year until yesterday showed that there were 19,851 positive cases from those in the 0-14 age group; 8,237 from the 5 to 6 age group; 26,851 from the 7 to 12 age group and 27,402 from the 13 to 17 age group.
"The younger generation are now more prone to contracting the virus as the trend has shown since early this year. This is compared to 2020 when the transmission was more prevalent among those aged 60 and above.
"Those under the age of 20 were diagnosed with categories 1, 2 and 3 of the Covid-19 infection and none were in the 4 or 5 (categories); and (there were) zero who needed treatment in the Intensive Care Unit," said Dr Adham in the weekly Covid-19 National Immunisation Programme (NIP) press conference conducted via Zoom today.
Dr Adham advised parents to adhere to the standard operating procedures (SOP) in protecting their children who are categorised as high risk.
He said they should refrain from bringing their children to crowded spaces where the virus could potentially spread.
"This is important and we have already given this advice under the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act 1988 or Act 342.
"We do not have a provision for a compoundable clause under Act 342.
"But with the SOP issued by the National Security Council, which has been gazetted, we can open an investigation paper against parents who defy the order by exposing their children in high risk areas," he said.